Minor girl 'ostracized' in school, probe ordered

BHUBANESWAR: Father of a standard IV girl student of a primary school in Hindol area of Dhenkanal district in Odisha alleged that teachers did not allow her daughter to sit near other students while having midday meal in school. Reason: girl's grandfather has a wound in his leg which was allegedly infested with worms.

"The school teachers asked my daughter not to sit with other students because of my father's wound. My daughter felt embarrassed and insulted because of the act. She doesn't want to go to school after the incident," said Abhi Nayak, father of the girl.

The incident happened on November 17. However, headmistress of the school Kamala Swain denied the allegation.

When the father lodged the complaint before the sub-collector, Hindol, the district administration ordered a probe into the incident. "I immediately directed the block education officer (BEO) and district child protection officer (DCPO) to inquire into the matter. The BEO has given his probe report, but DCPO is yet to submit it. BEO ruled out the allegation," said sub-collector Bhabesh Kumar Nayak.

He said Abhi opposed the BEO inquiry, so the administration again asked the additional district welfare officer and local tehsildar to probe the matter.